2124/Tigger on the Loose

Tigger on the Loose
Date of Scene:	22 August 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Okhotnik, Moonstar

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Okhotnik has posed:
It's not as if the folks of Xavier's haven't had enough going on; as such, it shouldn't be too surprising if a few details temporarily flew under their mental radar. But eventually people start paying attention, even if only as a distraction from the other stuff going on in their heads and hearts.

That will be when someone will manage to pick up a few oddities in the security grid's sensor data. Apparently, an unidentified figure has been spotted now and again over the last couple of weeks moving around in the woods outside the perimeter. Detailed analysis implies the figure is female, though clear shots are nonexistent; gait analysis and such can figure out things the human eye alone cannot. The figure never approaches the fence, never tries to cross, and is usually headed //away// from the fence. But whomever she is, she has been out there in the wilds and less settled places surrounding the Mansion off and on, rain or shine, for a few weeks.

That alone would not be a concern. Except there's this other thing. Perimeter scans have picked up, on two different evenings, a //huge// tiger moving around outside the propery. Said huge tiger is estimated by the computers to be twelve feet long in the body, and weigh in at nearly a thousand pounds of pure feline muscle. Color patterns suggest a Siberian, but there have been no reports of any missing Siberians from any preserves, zoos, shelters or rescues anywhere in the US in the last month. The cat was recorded taking down and then munching quite happily on a deer three nights ago.

For someone with animal empathic talents, there is more news to be had. The animals on the Mansion property have felt rather unsettled of late. Inquiries will point to the scent and presence of a new and powerful predator in the area. The more intelligent animals are unsettled, but not terrified. Indeed, Brightwind is more bothered by the rest of the horses making noise and complaining. Brightwind seems convinced the creature will not enter the compound.

Something about 'watching an errant cub'.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani would prefer to have Rahne out with her on a trip like this, but with all the animals being restless, it makes her restless. And between Mojo and Starro and all the other insanity happening, she'd like to check this concern off and take care of it. So she's out in the back area, away from the fence, quietly looking around for traces of this new 'predator'. Clad in just her yellow-and-black jumpsuit, she also has her bow slung over her shoulder. For now, she's looking for tracks, consulting with the local fauna with her empathy to try and get a sense of who or what is out here causing the ruckus.

Okhotnik has posed:
Though tracks are not plentiful, Dani can find some. Most are signs of human passage, showing worn-out boots on a taller than average, heavier than average figure, which would suit the images of the human spotted in the area. The most recent sign shows the human passed by here some time in the last five hours, headed north-west towards the far shore of the lake which lies outside the property. What sign Dani can find would seem to be that of someone moderately skilled at woodscraft trying to minimize their impact on the surroundings, but not actively trying to hide.

The local fauna are just as disturbed as those inside the property. Most of them have decided to be //somewhere else// while //whatever that is// lurks towards their lake. They're hoping it moves on soon so that they can get back to their watering hole. Many have migrated to parts of the lake much closer to the property than usual, so as to avoid said predator.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani tilts her head, hrmming softly at the tracks. She slowly follows the tracks, not drawing out her bow yet as she does focus on being quiet. She's pretty good at it too, especially since she's not wearing her full Valkyrie regalia. While it's nice in a fight, it jangles quite a bit.

Plus, if she needs it, it's only a word away, so that isn't a problem either... assuming she gets a chance to say it.

Okhotnik has posed:
Following the human tracks, Dani will come upon something the tracker in her would likely quail at seeing: a pile of human clothing to the side of the human tracks ... and then sign of that tiger proceeding towards the lake.

And as she draws closer, Dani will catch a scent surely Rahne would have caught from much further away: the coppery tang that can only be blood.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani blinks at the sight of the clothes, then the change of tracks. Quirking a faint smile, she decides to take the clothes... mainly for some sort of leverage if she needs it. Then, she continues on, not drawing her bow yet even as she smells the blood. Instead, she's focusing on the impressions of a tiger, trying to establish a link with it as she isn't sure how this is happening... but after being friends with Rahne for years, plus meeting Akula? She suspects what's going on, but just wants confirmation.

Besides, she has the mysterious stranger's clothes. That should help encourage a conversation, right?

Okhotnik has posed:
As Dani comes closer, she will catch sight of a faint orange presence in the taller grass at the lake edge. There, lying quiescently, is the humungous tiger, head down, apparently resting. There is the evidence of the remains of a wild pig nearby, under what should be the tiger's watchful gaze. There's not much left; then again, a creature that size has to stoke the furnace with quite a lot of food on a frequent basis. That shouldn't be too much of a shocker.

Indeed, Dani can 'feel' the tiger. Tigress, to be precise. She is quiet, resting, currently feeling unthreatened. She has caught some hint of Dani's scent, but while curious and attentive, is not feeling threatened enough to move just yet. Dani's experiences are broad enough that she can definitely say there is a sense of 'other' about the tigress, something more than just the animal. But the animal is in the ascendant, and nothing conscious of whatever else might be there. Not yet.

Empathy does give her the clue that otherwise is only betrayed by cocked, lightly twitching ears, following her steps, her breathing.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani blinks in surprise, unfazed by the eaten wild pig... save perhaps a bit of shock that there was actually one to hunt around here. She moves cautiously, not wishing to startle the tigress as she keeps the clothes under her arm in a bundle. "Easy girl... I'm not going to hurt you. Just wanted to see what was going on." She projects as much goodwill as she can muster, along with being as nonthreatening as possible. She doesn't want to be seen as a competing predator after all, as she moves closer to the mighty cat.

Okhotnik has posed:
As soon as Dani speaks, the tigress turns her head to regard her, those amber-green eyes locked right in on her presence, her movements. The tigress does not move otherwise, shows no signs of feeling threatened, but Dani's decision to draw closer, to speak, has made her the point of laser focus for the cat. She is panting softly, lying damp out under the sunlight.

The tigress watches Dani, and cants her head to the side. Dani can tell the cat got interested, a bit, when she caught a hint of another scent on the Amerindian woman. Just a wiff, a trace, but it is something that the cat hones in on with a possessiveness Dani has only ever noticed from wild mothers of their young.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani smiles, "Easy there." She takes the bundle of clothes and sets it down, then steps to the side a few paces, "You have to be careful where you leave these things." She looks curious at the tigress, "How long have you been out here?" She doesn't expect any sort of verbal response, but is trying her best to also use the link to communicate via empathy.

Okhotnik has posed:
Dani will notice instantly that the cat's attention stays with her, not the clothes; they don't even register as important at all. The tigress' tail flips from side to side lazily as she watches the approaching woman. Only once Dani gets within about fifteen feet does the cat come up to her feet, not quickly, but just doing so at about the same pace as Dani's cautious movements and approach. And still those ears swivel, staying focused on Dani, and still she seems to be responding to some barest whiff of a trace scent on Dani that she identifies as 'hers'. Not the clothes, though they likely do smell like her. This scent isn't //her//, but //hers//, in a possessive sense of belonging.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani moves closer, approaching gradually as she tilts her head, not quite understanding though she doesn't sense any danger, either. She stops almost within reach of the tigress, meeting her gaze curiously as she says, "Hello?" A bit of a smile there, as she clamps down on the fear. Because there is a slight current of it, with... well, there's a tiger within easy reach, and Dani is only human after all. Though she does her best to keep that out of the link...

Okhotnik has posed:
Not hungry, and having no mouths to feed, the tigress has not classified Dani as prey, as potential food. Neither, yet, as she become a threat. So for now, the tigress is treating her as a curiosity, save for this undercurrent that seems to identify Dani has having had contact, or more particularly, having been 'marked', by something or someone the tigress identifies as 'hers'. When the Amerindian is nearly within reach, the huge tigress - nearly twice the body length, and four times the mass, of the largest Sumatran tiger, and damned big even for a Siberian - turns and takes two huge paw steps closer, headbutting Dani's knee and then stropping against her leg as she sniffs closer.

This close, the scent picture is a good bit more complete as it travels through Dani's link. It has an odd 'accent' - and no, it's not Russian; but it is a tiger's scent picture, not a wolf's - but Dani has enough experience that slowly but surely it seems to resolve ...

... into Dani's roommate.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani oofs and tips over a bit, falling forward at the sudden nudge. Catching herself with her hands, she stays on all fours as she glances back towards the tigress, "Wait... Lexi? You know Lexi?" And she turns around to sit down on the ground, looking at the tigress, realizing the mental 'scent' picture... and possibly making a note to not borrow shirts from each other quite so much.

Okhotnik has posed:
The tiger walks over and pushes her big muzzle into Dani's tummy, wuffling, breathing deep as the scent picture comes in much more clearly. Yes, she knows Lexi, and the tigress feels very protective of Lexi. But she is not detecting Dani as a threat, as having hurt her. Only has carrying her scent. Indeed, for being a ginormous predator of lethal proportions, she's being gently playful, as if to leave her mark on Dani and send her back to Lexi as a sign saying 'awww, your toy is cute, thank you for sharing her'.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani laughs softly, "Yeah, Lexi's pretty great. I'm protective of her too." Then she reaches out and, if allowed, gently ruffles the tigress' head, stroking the fur back as the big cat nuzzles against her belly. She doesn't really worry about the bow at this point, feeling more comfortable with the tigress as she expands the link, "Man, sharks and tigers... I guess I'm going to find a dinosaur out here next I suppose."

Okhotnik has posed:
The tigress remains gently playful and friendly. Her mind apparently is not processing English words, only tone of voice, but what comes through the empathic link - amazement at her presence, curiosity about what else is about - yields a few responses. The tigress apparently has a painfully sharp mental map of the entire exterior to the Mansion property and every scent she has caught around it. There's a 'territory' sense to that map. But not a primary territory.

Oh. And no dinosaurs. Sorry to disappoint. No Savage Land imports today.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani hmmms, "Wow, you've been here a long time, haven't you?" She keeps petting the tigress, running her fingers through her hair as she tilts her head, "I wonder what your story is." Because, well, a weretiger in New York state isn't exactly normal. Even for Xavier's.

Okhotnik has posed:
The tigress accepts this petting, though she does not rumble or purr with happiness the way a domestic would. However, she seems happy to continue being playful together. Of course, she has no answer for questions in people words, so she can't really explain what her story is, or what she's doing here. Other than Lexi, of course.

Moonstar has posed:
Dani looks pretty unsurprised with the lack of purrs. Probably because she's from Colorado, and has seen mountain lions before by the Rez. She doesn't mind just goofing off with the big cat, taking advantage of the bonding she has with animals to empathize with the tigress. She mmmms a bit, "We should really get you into the school. Just to keep you from spooking the horses." At least then they could get used to it, right?

Okhotnik has posed:
Getting the tigress to go into the mansion's grounds might be an interesting challenge. If leading a horse to water is a challenge and making them drink impossible, imagine how hard it is to lead a 1000-pound tigress somewhere. But the tigress keeps playing. She's not quite as gentle as a truly trained animal might be, but she doesn't do any harm beyond some bruising because she's //so// strong, and Dani is a 'mere' human in bodily resistance. Eventually, however, the tigress will bore of the game and untangle herself from Dani, padding over to lay down under her chosen sunbeam again.